Allan I. Pack, M.B.Ch.B., Ph.D., FRCP

faculty photo
John Miclot Professor
Fellow, Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Member, Institute for Neurological Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Member, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Member, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Assistant Dean and Director of Global Sleep Programs, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvaia
Director of Research Training, Division of Sleep Medicine/Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Department: Medicine
Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information
Translational Research Laboratories
125 South 31st Street, Suite 2100
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3403
Office: 215-746-4806
Fax: 215-746-4814
Education:
M.B.Ch.B
University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1967.
Ph.D. (Mathematical models of lung function)
University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1976.
Permanent link
 
> Perelman School of Medicine   > Faculty   > Details

Description of Research Expertise

Dr. Pack is pursuing research on genetics/genomics of sleep and its disorders. His laboratory is conducting studies in Drosophila and mice and translating these findings to humans. A particular focus of Dr. Pack’s work is to evaluate the genetic determinants of sleep homeostasis. Studies are ongoing to evaluate molecular mechanisms of sleepiness and sleep promotion using both hypothesis-driven and discovery science. The latter involves analysis of the changes in the transcription with sleep/wake and sleep deprivation in identified neuronal populations. Techniques being used include behavioral/sleep studies in Drosophila and mice, RT-PCR, Western analysis of protein, expression profiling, laser microcapture dissection, RNA seq and immunohistochemistry. Dr. Pack is committed to research training and directs three training grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Description of Clinical Expertise

Dr. Pack's clinical expertise is in sleep disorders with a particular focus on diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnea. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in this area and has been listed in the Best Doctor's in the United States and in the Philadelphia region (Philadelphia Magazine).

Selected Publications

Morris, J.L., Scott, P.W., Magalang, U., Keenan, B.T., Patel, S.R., Pack, A.I., and Mazzotti, D.R: Symptom subtype progression in obstructive sleep apnea over 5 years. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine June 2024.

Doldur-Balli, F., Zimmerman, A.J., Seiler, C., Veatch, O., and Pack, A.I: Measuring Sleep and Activity Patterns in Adult Zebrafish. Bio Protocol 14(12), June 2024.

Thorarinsdottir, E.H., Pack, A.I., Gislason, T., Kuna, S.T., Penzel, T., Yun Li, Q., Cistulli, P.A., Magalang, U.J., McArdle, N., Singh, B., Janson, C., Aspelund, T., Younes, M., de Chazal, P., Tufik, S., and Keenan, B.T.: Polysomnographic characteristics of excessive daytime sleepiness phenotypes in obstructive sleep apnea: results from the international Sleep Apnea Global Interdisciplinary Consortium. Sleep 47(4): zsae035, Apr 2024.

Vidigal, T.A., Haddad, F.L.M., Guimaraes, T.M., Silva, L.O., Andersen, M.L., Schwab, R., Cistulli, P.A., Pack, A.I., Tufik, S., and Bittencourt, L.R.A.: Can intraoral and facial photos predict obstructive sleep apnea in the general and clinical population? Sleep 47(3): zsad307, Mar 2024.

Emilsson, O.I., Aspelund, T., Janson, C., Benediktsdottir, B., Juliusson, S., Maislin, G., Pack, A.I., Keenan, B.T., and Gislason, T.: Nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux and respiratory symptoms are increased in sleep apnoea: comparison with the general population. BMJ Open Respir Res 11(1): e002192, 2024.

Te, T.T., Keenan, B.T., Veatch, O.J., Boland, M.R., Hubbard, R.A., and Pack, A.I.: Identifying clusters of patient comorbidities associated with obstructive sleep apnea using electronic health records. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 20(4): 521-533, 2024.

Xu, L., Yi, H., Pi, M., Zhang, C., Keenan, B.T., Glick, H.A., Dong, X., Pack, A.I., Han, F., and Kuna, S.T.: Telemedicine management of obstructive sleep apnea disorder in China: a randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial. Sleep and Breathing 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1007/s11325-024-02994-6.

Sonti, S., Littleton, S.H., Pahl, M.C., Zimmerman, A.J., Chesi, A. Palermo, J., Lascni, C., Brown, E.B., Pippin, J.A., Wells, A.D., Doldur-Balli F., Pack, A.I., Gehrman, P.R., Keene, A.C., and Grant, S.F.A.: Perturbation of the insomnia WDR90 GWAS locus pinpoints rs3752495 as a causal variant influencing distal expression of neighboring gene, PIG-Q. Sleep Page: zsae085, 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsae085.

Patil, S.P., Billings, M.E., Bourjeily, G., Collop, N.A., Gottlieb, D.J., Johnson, K.G., Kimoff, R.J., and Pack, A.I.: Long-term health outcomes for patients with obstructive sleep apnea: placing the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report in context—a multisociety commentary. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 20(1): 135-149, 2024.

Guo, X., Keenan, B.T., Reiner, B.C., Lian, J., and Pack, A.I.: Single-nucleus RNA-seq identifies one galanin neuronal subtype in mouse preoptic hypothalamus activated during recovery from sleep deprivation. Cell Reports 43(5): 114192, 2024.

back to top
Last updated: 10/02/2024
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania